We had a wonderful Christmas filled with family and the spirit of giving. This year my family decided that instead of getting each other Christmas gifts we would provide some for a family in need. Brandie spearheaded that project and before we knew what hit us she had done the whole thing. Thanks Brandie for helping us be a little more Christ-like this year!
Eli was more than a little cute at Christmas time. He didn't touch the presents under the tree, he didn't really understand what they were. Now the ornaments those where a whole different story, our tree had ornaments on the top half and only a few non breakable ones on the bottom. He loved the ornaments at Grandma Donna's house, loved them to pieces! Once Christmas came and we showed him how to open the presents he got into the swing of it, he quickly lost interest though and went in search of other entertainment. The cutest part about Christmas with Eli this year were the books! Just in time for Christmas Eli discovered that he had several books about the birth of Christ. He loved reading those books and we would read them over and over and I would cry almost everytime. What an amazing reminder from my little one year old about the true reason we celebrate Christmas!
Here are some pictures of our wonderful Christmas celebrated with the ones that we love!
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| Eli and our neighbor Jayda at the ward Christmas party, Eli got to sit on Santa's lap for the first time. He did really good and didn't cry. He just looked up at Santa like "Who in the world are you?" |
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| Eli trying to help with the clean up. "I found something with wheels, therefore I must push it!" |
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| Happy Birthday Daddy! Wendy and Ed gave Jared a card with a Mater hat, it didn't fit Jared so we put it on Eli. Jared's birthday this year was marred though because he got sick. |
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| Ed and Wendy got tickets to the Christmas concert at Temple Square and were kind enough to invite us along. The concert was wonderful. I really enjoyed the telling of Good King Wenceslas. |
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| Christmas Day! Time to enjoy Mommy's Tim Tams! |
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| New shoes! |
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| Grandpa Pete got Eli some big blocks which Eli loves and Jared is not so fond of. They make a big mess and Eli insists on dumping the whole box out before he can play with them. |
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| Another present from Grandpa Pete, Eli likes to hit one button over and over again, it's like a broken record or a really bad rapper. Watch out Jake here comes DJ Eli..."U, Urchin, U, Urchin, U, Urchin, U, U, U..." |
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| Here is my family exchanging a few gifts. Shirt for Kay! |
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| Orbital Sander for Brandie. She has picked up a few hobbies lately that are just mind boggling to me, never did I think that my sister would take up carpentry and running! Go Brandie! |
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| Tools for Jared! |
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| Big Present! |
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| Okay the presents are small but with a big fun box. |
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| So Cute! Eli checking out his new book. |
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| The Golden book of CHOCOLATE! |
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| Eli loves Chelle's Birds. |
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| I played my best for him pa rum pa pa pum. |
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| Going on a hike with Gandpa... |
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| and the rest of the crew! |
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| 1, 2, 3 swing. Eli could do this all day. Mommy and Daddy could not! |
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| Just playin' in the sand. A giant sandbox just for Eli. |
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| We found the sun! And we're staying put. |
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| Look at the air Josh gets! |
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| "I love what you do for me, TOYOTA!" |
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| Bring him up in the way and he will not depart from it. Play at the playground with Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma Donna. |
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| Eli's favorite part of the park was the trucks doing construction! |
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| Dump Trucks and Loaders nothin' better than this. |
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| Rim Trails |
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| Breakin' Jason in from the mish with some awesome ridin' |
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| Resting, because I am tired! |
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| Packing to go home is a bit difficult when Eli is in your suitcase! |
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| "I got the camera Mom! Don't tell Daddy!" |
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| Eli has some big shoes to fill! |
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| Family bike ride to the store and back! |
Jared got to do lots of ridin' down in St. George and he was immensely happy about that. Here is is jumping and of course goofing off!
